“You have a gun.”
Hunter saw the older man nod, “I can do that.”
“If it is necessary, do not hesitate.”
“I understand,” Paco said.
Chapter 4
Hunter felt ice trace up her spine. They were talking, matter-of-factly, about killing someone, or possibly more than one person.
Time to leave, Hunter thought, and she walked down the street, glancing back, avoiding small dry twigs in the street, keeping quiet all the way. Hunter picked up the pace and trotted to her vehicle. Once inside the truck cab and behind the steering wheel, she let out a sigh, started the engine and drove out of there.
She was almost into downtown Acuña when a black Ford 250 stopped crossways in the street ahead of her, blocking her path. There was only one man in the vehicle, tall, wearing a ball cap and dark aviator sunglasses. He opened his door and stepped to the street.
Hunter almost hit reverse and sped away, but something about the man’s walk stopped her. When he took off his glasses, she recognized him. It was the bodyguard, Ike.
He walked to her driver’s window, “You need to get out of here.”
“You stopped me or I would have been gone. Did somebody report me?”
“You were spotted, let’s leave it at that.”
“Thanks for letting me know. I’m headed to Del Rio as soon as you move.”
He put his hand on her windowsill, “Be careful. People are looking for you, and not just Solomon’s gang.”
“Why? What did I do?”
“What I heard, people are watching you. And there’s an Ojinaga connection to it, somebody paying for it to be done. Sounds like you have some enemies out there.”
“I probably do.”
Ike said, “Since you saved Solomon’s kid, I don’t think he’s out for you, but somebody is. You’re a walking target right now in Mexico, with a big old bullseye on your back. I’m serious.”
She nodded, “Thanks, Ike. I’ll go across. At least in Texas I can carry.”
He tapped the door, “If I hear something, I’ll pass it on.” He returned to the black Ford and drove away.
Hunter drove straight to the International Bridge and crossed into Del Rio, watching for anyone following her, but she missed the brown Ford three cars back, the one with the large woman behind the wheel. Hunter breathed a little easier when she was back in Del Rio, and drove to the Skillet’s Restaurant for lunch and to call Norma.
As soon as she stepped inside, Hunter saw the sad face of Anna Hoyt. She sat in a window booth, nibbling on a triangle of dry toast, with coffee and water as her beverages. Anna spotted Hunter, and motioned for her to come to the table. Anna said, “You can sit with me, if you like. The place is kinda crowded today.”
“Thanks.” Hunter slid into the opposite side of the booth as Anna pushed a menu across the table for her. As she browsed over the items on the page, she asked Anna, “You want anything else? I’m buying.”
“I’m fine. Not much of an appetite these days.”
Hunter nodded, and when she gave her order to the waitress, she said to Anna, “How are you holding up?”
“Not too good. Day by day, sometimes minute by minute. I hope you’re still looking for her. Please tell me you are.”
“I ran into some trouble in Mexico and need to stay on this side, at least for a while. But I was looking around.”
“But over there is where her kidnappers are, and maybe her.” The anguish in her voice was restrained, but noticeable. Hunter wondered how terrible it must be to have a child taken, and not know what has happened to them. Were they alive, were they dead, are they in pain, or suffering? That thought made Hunter roll her shoulders from the tension. She said, “Tell me about Kelly. What’s she like?”
Anna’s eyes brightened, “She’s so smart, Hunter, really smart. She’s quick, too, and funny.”
“She sounds resourceful, and that may help.”